Running life: Start now to plan for next running season

Before getting too busy with the holiday season, it's a good idea to stop and think about next year. Waiting until January for New Year's resolutions is too late.

I always think of Jan. 1 as the first day of spring. That's when I start training. Not only does it help me mentally cope with the long winter, but the days start getting longer. Time goes by so fast that March and April are always here before most people come out of hibernation. Why waste the first part of racing season getting warmed up?

Before planning goals or races for next year, stop and take the time to review what you did this year.

What did you accomplish and how did you manage to do it? What are you most proud of? Did you learn any lessons to use as you go forward to help you be a better runner?

What races didn't measure up to your expectations? Were they training mistakes or were your goals set too high? Is your goal realistic or does it take more than a year of training to reach it?

Then plan your race schedule for next year.

Look at your wish list for races you want to do over the next year. Write them all down, even the ones that seem too hard, too expensive or out of reach for any reason. Be flexible; you never know when a new race might appear or you need to adjust your schedule for some reason. I try to pick at least one new race in a new location every year so I don't burn out.

Try not to get in a rut, running the same races on the same schedule every year. That can lead to burnout and boredom. It's nice to be able to compare performances on consecutive years, but variety makes you a better and stronger runner.

If you have performance goals, choose the most important one or two races you really want to train hardest for. Build the other ones around those as training runs. Focus on the big race as your goal, and run hard in the smaller ones, but don't let your performances in those discourage you.

Design a training plan that makes sense, building up to the goal race incrementally. The most important element of a training plan is rest, before you do anything else. If you really want to come charging back in January, it's important to use this time of year for rest.

If you're new to running, you'll need to build up a consistent base of mileage before adding speed to your workouts. The hills at Horsetooth Resevoir on Centennial Drive are a great place for winter workouts. It's possible to work on hills and distance at the same time, which are good for building strength for speed later in the season.

There's no need to skimp on your workouts during the winter. We live in the perfect place for winter running. Our winters are sunny, we rarely get extreme cold, and when we do it doesn't last long. It's not unusual to be able to run on dry trails during the winter months here. The bike paths in town are often plowed before the streets and less icy than the sidewalks in town.

Don't forget your reflective gear, lights and layers of clothing for running in the dark and cold. Keep your ears, neck and hands warm with headbands, neck gaiters and gloves or mittens.

During the day, don't forget sunglasses and a hat to keep the snow glare off your face and out of your eyes, and use sunscreen on your face. Staying warm during your run keeps you from wasting energy, and you'll feel better at the end of those longer runs if you aren't freezing the whole time.

Don't forget to eat and drink. You might not feel as thirsty in cold weather, but you still need to replace fluids and electrolytes lost from sweating.

You can easily be fit and ready to race by next spring. Start now by putting your feet up, enjoying the holidays, drinking your favorite beverage and dreaming about next year.

Alene Nitzky is a Fort Collins resident who has been running ultra-marathons since 1991. Email sherunnoft@gmail.com and read her blog, Journey to Badwater, at alenegone bad.blogspot.com.

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The Running Life

Alene Nitzky is a Fort Collins resident who has been running ultramarathons since 1991. Her email is sherunnoft@gmail.com and her blog, Journey to Badwater, is alenegonebad.blogspot.com. She believes every day is an adventure.

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Running life: Start now to plan for next running season

Before getting too busy with the holiday season, it's a good idea to stop and think about next year. Waiting until January for New Year's resolutions is too late.I always think of Jan. 1 as the first